Dhaka March 11 2025:
Tan Sri Othman Hashim, Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, paid a courtesy call on the Adviser for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Md. Touhid Hossain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.
After exchanging greetings, the Special Envoy sought Bangladesh’s views, insights and comments on that matter.
The Foreign Adviser congratulated the Special Envoy on his appointment and expressed hope that his tenure as chair would usher in new avenues to resolve the crisis. He informed that Bangladesh is positively considering assisting an UN-led humanitarian assistance programme in Rakhine in the face of impending famine, which may contribute to stability in Rakhine State. He highlighted the necessity of early repatriation of the FDMNs with agreed right and security.
The Hon’ble Adviser urged the need for urgent action to prepare a comprehensive Rohingya Repatriation Roadmap involving Myanmar, ASEAN members, the UN, and donor countries. He highlighted that ASEAN nations are the sufferers of the FDMN crisis after Bangladesh. Therefore, more coordinated efforts from ASEAN may contribute to resolve the challenges of Repatriation.
The Special Envoy conveyed ASEAN’s strong commitment for resolving the crisis and assured that he would make a coordinated effort toward this goal. He agreed that the crisis has gone beyond boundaries and highlighted ASEAN’s ongoing humanitarian assistance efforts in Myanmar.
He also emphasized that ASEAN nations, like Bangladesh, are also affected by the crisis which needs to be resolved through cooperation in all possible ways.
The ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Othman Hashim had a meeting with the Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md. Jashim Uddin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.
The Foreign Secretary congratulated him and expressed hope that his tenure would enhance cooperation under the ASEAN framework for the repatriation of the Rohingyas.
During the meeting, the Foreign Secretary underscored the importance of the repatriation of the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals to their homeland. The Foreign Secretary highlighted that both Bangladesh and ASEAN nations are affected by the crisis and emphasized the need for coordinated efforts. He urged the Special Envoy to implement the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. The Foreign Secretary conveyed concerns over Myanmar’s lack of political will in repatriation, escalating recent violence. Foreign Secretary also shed light on the incoming High Level Conference on Rohingyas proposed by the Hon’ble Chief Adviser.
The Special Envoy expressed the willingness of ASEAN to resolve the crisis. He also mentioned his recent visit to Myanmar and ongoing humanitarian assistance activities of ASEAN in Myanmar. He reiterated that ASEAN countries are also victims like Bangladesh and will try to resolve the issue peacefully through safe repatriation.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to resolving the crisis through diplomacy
